Titans begin offseason business with decision to waive two

This time last year the Tennessee Titans viewed Jordan Babineaux as a starter.

Now he’s finished.

The veteran safety was one of two players the Titans released on Tuesday, the first day of the NFL’s new league year. They also waived guard Mitch Petrus, a late-season pickup in 2012.

Babineaux started 27 games in two seasons with Tennessee. That was nearly as many as he started in seven seasons with the Seattle Seahawks (29), where he earned the nickname “Big Play Babs.”

In 2011, when he was signed as a free agent following the lockout and led the Titans with a career-high 117 tackles. He intercepted one pass, which he returned 97 yards for a touchdown in a victory against Cleveland. He also forced one fumble and recovered a fumble and was among the team’s leaders in special teams tackles.

In 2012 it was opponents who made big plays against the Titans, particularly the secondary. Tennessee allowed more points than any team in the league. Only one team allowed more than the 31 touchdown passes the Titans yielded.

Babineaux broke into the league as an undrafted free agent with Seattle in 2004.

“I have been with Babs for several years in both Seattle and Tennessee and I have always respected how he played the game,” Tennessee general manager Ruston Webster said.

The Titans claimed Petrus off waivers from New England on Dec. 5. Injuries to the offensive line thrust him into a starting role at left guard Dec. 23 at Green Bay. Quarterback Jake Locker was sacked seven times that day in a 55-7 defeat.